The Need for Civic Work / Civic Virtue

[Note: This is an excerpt from an email I sent tonight to the members of the Utah County Republican Party Constitution & Bylaws Committee, the four elected County Party Officers, and the County's Education officer. My email was a response to last night's County Central Committee Meeting.]


Rep. Dougall last night referred to our culture as a "fast food culture" - expecting that other people will do the work while we enjoy the benefits. That comment really struck me. On the one hand, I can understand how individuals don't want to sit around for hours feeling like they're wasting their time on a Saturday morning or a Thursday night. And all of us can do our part to make sure that our meeting time together is as productive as possible. (Taylor & Lisa, thank you soooo much for instituting and continuing to provide agendas for our meetings. It makes a world of difference!)

However, despite our best efforts, it seems to me that many people expect to come and be informed and entertained, but don't want to "get into the weeds" as Taylor put it. It's the same with conventions - people want to elect their candidates, but don't want to have to deal with the "messy" decisions. So they walk out right after the ballots are cast, invariably we lose a quorum, and then the convention has to adjourn without finishing the work. What many don't realize is that the price of freedom requires the willingness and ability to confront and clear out those weeds. Anyone who expects anything less is asking for "fast food", a fast fix, a momentary high but short-lived result.

I strongly feel that we need to instill the value of civic work or, as I call it, civic virtue: the ability to govern ourselves peaceably by confronting our differences and resolving them in the best way we can while maintaining trust, good will, and a common purpose among us. In my opinion, it is precisely the lack of this kind of civic virtue that has created the maelstrom we have in Washington, D.C., right now. But how in good conscience can we point fingers at them if we are unable to do it ourselves in our county party?

I think it was Senator Madsen last night that referred to the appalling lack of civic education in our society over the past few decades. Realistically we can't expect everyone to change overnight. But we can and we must start emphasizing the responsibilities as well as the privileges of being a delegate, a precinct officer, a Central Committee member, etc., and we need to emphasize that "responsibility" is not a bad thing. Honestly, one of my several reasons for being involved is to allow myself to learn and grow stronger in civic virtue. I know that people get involved for a lot of other reasons besides wanting to a better person, but we can help point out that it's a good thing to seek for.

I'm really grateful for Adrielle's awesome work at preparing the "responsibilities from the bylaws" page for leg. officers and precinct officers. It's a great start. I know I'll also be emphasizing civic virtue in my leg. district trainings, both before and after the caucuses.